Overview
The historical and tourist epicentre of Pisa
Pisa and its tower.
Pisa and its wonderful Piazza del Duomo, more commonly known as Piazza dei Miracoli, or the Square of Miracles.
The Prato dei Miracoli, as it was named by D’Annunzio in 1910, is a wide expanse of green lawn on which stand Pisa’s four world-famous masterpieces of medieval monumental art: the famous Campanile or Leaning Tower, the Camposanto, the Baptistery and the Duomo.
The Piazza’s construction dates back to 1064. The aim was to create an important religious centre symbolising the main stages of every man’s life. So the Baptistery symbolises birth, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and the Tower, life and, finally, the Camposanto (or cemetery), death. The Piazza dei Miracoli and its four masterpieces of medieval Christian architecture were some of the first Italian sites listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and are a real must-see.
But Pisa has much more to offer. Leave Piazza dei Miracoli behind and walk to the historic centre. Don’t miss: the Church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri, the Palazzo del Consiglio dei Dodici and the Palazzo della Carovana, home of Normale di Pisa university.
